It’s second nature for American consumers to check the nutritional panels on the foods and beverages they buy, but increasingly, they’ll be able to check something else: the carbon footprint.
Just Salad restaurant chain announced last month that it would label every menu item with its carbon footprint by Climate Week, starting September 21, 2020.
“Our food choices will have a profound effect on the fate of our planet. By carbon labeling our menu, we’re embracing climate-smart eating, helping our guests eat for planetary and human health,” said Sandra Noonan, chief sustainability officer, in a statement. The restaurant will also add plant-based cheese options to its menu by 2022, since they have a lower carbon footprint.
According to a study from Tulane University, food production constitutes a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, and 66 percent of Americans feel they should be helping reduce global warming, according to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
The carbon footprint of food is complicated and extensive. It covers everything from fertilizers and manures used in the growing process to deforestation to make way for agriculture, to livestock digestion, transportation and product packaging. All this will be reflected on labels.
In general, foods made from animals contribute the most greenhouse gas emissions, so it’s fitting that Quorn, a producer of animal protein alternative products is including carbon labels on its products.
Quorn’s in-house carbon footprint experts calculate the emissions of its products and the data is then checked and accredited by the Carbon Trust. The certification not only ensures that the product’s footprint has been measured but that the company has committed to continuing to reduce its carbon footprint, according to Quorn.
‘Unless we make changes to the things we do on the planet, we’re going to have some pretty serious problems,” said Ben Sussa, head of U.S. marketing for the U.K.-based company. “Most people don’t know how their choices are impacting the planet and no one knows how to help. By doing very little, you can make an outside impact. Putting this on the packet, people can realize how much carbon they can save.”
For companies to make this step, they really have to commit to it. Quorn, said Sussa, has “multiple employees whose only responsibility is looking at the sustainability of our products.” Just Salad, likewise, has an entire team devoted to sustainability, headed up by Noonan.
It’s not just small companies; Unilever is also working on transparency surrounding the carbon footprint of products, with the goal of having no carbon emissions from its own operations and to halve the greenhouse gas footprint of its products across the value chain by 2030.
“This is part of Unilever’s measures and commitments designed to improve the health of the planet by taking an even more decisive action to fight climate change, and protect and regenerate nature, to preserve resources for future generations,” said Unilever in a statement provided to SFA News Daily.
Alexander Frantzen, founder and CEO of Carbon Calories in New York City said he expects to see change. “Hopefully this will encourage some companies to lower their carbon footprint. If they don’t consumers will walk away from them.”
Image: Quorn
from Industry Operations https://ift.tt/2BBap1Y
No comments: